Group Advocacy vs Client Advocacy

• Responses to First Learning about Affect Theory by Jim Duffy a.k.a. J.C.D., 2/28/97
  • (...)
    
    • Strong Link...and How Shame Enters into the Clinical vs Advocacy Question by c.h., 3/20/97
      
      

c.h.....Iam very glad to see that advocacy is not dead yet! I think it is just sleeping along with community organizing as sub techniques within the therapeutic community. We are talking on two levels here. I think we need a distinction. Lets split advocacy into two seperate but not necessarily mutually exclusive groups. The first, which I believe is what you primarily utilize, would be client advocacy. This usually entails a variety of interventions on behalf of or at the behest of the client. You have stated several of these in your postings and these would include: consciousness raising (client), recognition of condition (client awareness), identifying influences, and direct intervention (ie. contacting employer/loved one/friend etc.) on behalf of the client. I had the good fortune of having a professor in graduate school (Burt Gummer Ph.D) in a course on organizational theory. By his definition (and mine), these type of interventions would fall within the category of Rational interventions. I would suggest the title of rational advocacy for these type of pro active interventions. ..................................................On the other hand, another body of interventions that are also pro active would be those that adress the group or overall concerns of a particular group of individuals that have shared concerns or are effected by a similar limiting (?) or handicapping (?) condition. The type of interventions that may logically ensue from this brand of advocacy would be: consciousness raising (public), public forums, fund raising, protesting and civil disobedience. Two groups that are very adept at these types of advocacy would be : Aids Advocacy (Act Up), and PETA (people for the ethical treatment of animals). I suggest that this brand of acvocacy falls within the category of political arena advocacy. To recap, we have rational advocacy (client centered/directly based on individual concerns) and political arena advocacy (based on shared group concerns/using political methodology)....................................................Here again, these categories are not mutually exclusive. As in your example. you may suggest to an HIV+ client that he/she join an advocacy group to further the cause of understanding of that group (and,therapeutically, to enhance the self esteem and feelings of self worth of that particular client). I hope these clarifications help (and thank you Burt Gummer wherever you are)................................e.r. (c.h., do you like ee cummins?)..............................................................PS. c.h., I have a 3/5 copy of my large portfolio which I could drop in the mail to you if you are interested. It is my first group of work (twelve pieces) and is basically a "range" portfolio. Please respond to my Email if you are interested (this is definitely not a solicitation!).,,,,,,Ed

No Replies